Ten times fifteen times fifty

[oggbashan]

I entered my tenth fifty-word compilation for the Halloween Contest.

I started in a small way in 2003 and entered the compilation as Poetry. Since then I have written nine entries, each of fifteen fifty-word stories. Ignoring the "poetry" that's 135 stories yet the submission counter only records them as nine.

However, very few people seem to want to use the fifty-word format.

Any idea why?

Og

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I
However, very few people seem to want to use the fifty-word format.

Any idea why?

Og

It's harder than it looks!!

 

[oggbashan]

It's harder than it looks!!

So is any writing.

Fifties may be "hard" but they're not that hard to do.

Og

 

[elfin_odalisque]

So is any writing.

Fifties may be "hard" but they're not that hard to do.

Og

I go with Selena on this one.

Like doing sudokus and crosswords, the art of the fifty-word story is a pleasure for connoisseurs. I envy the talent to get a three-act story in fifty words and have bookmarked your 'HowTo'.

Hows about an AH contest to write a fifty worder - you can either be judge or winner.

It's a great discipline for a writer and could be great fun.

 

[Saucy_Sage]

The problem with entering a contest along those lines, in which the writer is limited to no more than fifty words, is that by the time you have established the characters and the setting of your story, the number of words left in which you can develop the plot is

 

[oggbashan]

Oops Fifty

He wanted to write a fifty word story.

He knew the plot and the ending.

He just didn’t have the right words.

Og’s How-To wasn’t enough help.

He asked his partner.

She said: “Just write it then cut out all the unnecessary words.”

He did. There were no words left.

 

[Liar]

Hows about an AH contest to write a fifty worder - you can either be judge or winner.

Fifty? Try fifteen.

Last dance, one hand around her back, one straying. She came on the final chorus.

 

[DeeZire]

Ogg - I really liked your fifty word Halloweens stories, and your How-To. As I songwriter I can relate - trying to tell as much as you can by word choice rather than wordiness. I think any author can benefit from utilizing economical writing techniques. When every word counts, what you're saying takes on more intensity - which equates to a more compelling read.

I wrote a 4500 word story based on a 100 word flashfic piece I posted in the AH thread a while back. All I have to do is get it edited, which brings up the beauty of the 50 word format - although the editing is more crucial, it doesn't take as long.

 

[starrkers]

So is any writing.

Fifties may be "hard" but they're not that hard to do.

Og

But they are hard to do well.

 

[matriarch]

Fifty? Try fifteen.

Last dance, one hand around her back, one straying. She came on the final chorus.

Absolutely brilliant.

But incredibly difficult for us lesser mortals.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Fifty? Try fifteen.

Last dance, one hand around her back, one straying. She came on the final chorus.

That cheating Liar. That's a poem strung out in one line! Now do one with fifty words and see if you can resist editing it down to fifteen!

 

[oggbashan]

OK - fifteen

He saw her, she him. They met, parted, met again, till death do them part.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

OGG

One of the joys of writing is to discover ways to say lots without saying much. The whole process is awareness, and knowledge of what things mean.

 

[oggbashan]

OGG

One of the joys of writing is to discover ways to say lots without saying much. The whole process is awareness, and knowledge of what things mean.

I know. I spent 14 years of my life negotiating with five trade unions. I could speak for hours without conceding anything...

Og

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

OGG

Anyone who wants to learn about verbal and non-verbal communication cant do better than to study the cases of Milton Erickson MD. He emphasized that competent actors know how to express simple words, like NO, and give the word 100s of meanings.

As a kid I listened to a recording of two actors speak each other's name for the entire time. 'John' and 'Marsha' was all they spoke. And each time was different.

 

[oggbashan]

OGG

Anyone who wants to learn about verbal and non-verbal communication cant do better than to study the cases of Milton Erickson MD. He emphasized that competent actors know how to express simple words, like NO, and give the word 100s of meanings.

As a kid I listened to a recording of two actors speak each other's name for the entire time. 'John' and 'Marsha' was all they spoke. And each time was different.

I agree - but how do you express anything non-verbally in a story?

Authors have a real problem expressing ourselves in ways that cannot be misinterpreted. Some of the spats in threads in the Authors Hangout have arisen because someone read something into a poster's words that were not intended.

We have to be precise. We don't have intonation or emphasis, just plain words on a screen (and the occasional smiley).

Og

 

[dr_mabeuse]

When I write porn, my aim is pretty much the very opposite of concision. I'm looking to spread out with a lot of luxurious language and rich detail and concrete sensual imagery. I can't think of anything more antithetical to good, juicy erotica than a word limit. It's like having a beauty pageant in army fatigues.

 

[Lisa Denton]

He saw her, she him. They met, parted, met again, till death do them part.

He saw her, she him. They met, farted, met again, till smell drove them apart.

 

[Safe_Bet]

He saw her, she him. They met, farted, met again, till smell drove them apart.

Lisa, I'm sorry hon, but that story stinks.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

OGG

It seems easy and simple to me. I choreograph behavior in my scenes and punctuate it with laconic dialogue. Characters make stereotypical movements, complexions change color, significance is illustrated by repetition or absence or timing. The expected and unexpected happen. Readers monitor characters for congruence, what they discover tips them off (unconsciously) that all is well or mischief is in the making.

 

[Corylea]

When I write porn, my aim is pretty much the very opposite of concision. I'm looking to spread out with a lot of luxurious language and rich detail and concrete sensual imagery. I can't think of anything more antithetical to good, juicy erotica than a word limit.

You've certainly shown us all how effective that can be.

It's like having a beauty pageant in army fatigues.

On the other hand, one can cram a lot of meaning into a good metaphor.

 

[Xelebes]

It's like having a beauty pageant in army fatigues.

You know when the next one will be held?

 

[TE999]

Algy met a bear

The bear was bulgy

The bulge was Algy.